Since medically having problems and on TPN for a few months, I have been sleeping AWFUL. I did read it is a side effect of lots that I have been diagnosed with, B1 defiecient, malnutrion..anyway, had my WLS reversed and finally am recouping from that. Last week I asked my PCP for a sleep aid, I need to sleep some more, and it's driving me nuts.

He prescribled Lunesta, but insurance gave me Ambien to try first. I did for a few nights, and I've been using advice from a few people on another board and it is working better I guess. They said you had to take it and immediately get into bed. I was taking it and then waiting a big, putzing going to the bathroom, and then I was having a hard time. So I did notice that if I pop it after I do my stuff, and lay down, lights out, things are better. It does give me the ability to fall back to sleep, not as quickly though, after I get up to pee (TPN makes me pee like 5 times a night), this is frustrating as it's not just jump up and pee, I have a backpack with TPN to carry then come back to bed, adjust the tubing so it's not twisted...sheesh..

Anybody have experience with Ambien, or Lunesta or something else. I do realize that different drugs affect us all differently.

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Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

I have taken Lunesta a few times. It wakes me up from the horrible taste it leaves in my mouth (a very common side effect of Lunesta). I've quit taking Lunesta because of it.

I did not like Lunesta, but I LOVED Ambien. It's nectar from the prescription gods. LOL I got the best sleep on Ambien, but it is addictive, and after time, I could not sleep at all without. I finally weaned myself off it, but now I have terrible sleep patterns.

When taking Ambien, if I didn't get into bed after taking it-- I would hallucinate. You have to be VERY careful!

Holly

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Sleeping meds tend to make me feel wired... I've tried over the counter (did you know that Simply Sleep and Benadryl contain the same active ingredient???) and now have a prescription for Restoril to help me sleep (Eczema was itching pretty badly at night -- keeping me awake).

I've taken the Restoril for 3 nights now. The first night, DH said I was talking in my sleep and I felt like I was awake for most of the night -- wired. Second night, I slept 8 hours straight; which I never do. Last night, I was back to tossing and turning.

I just don't get it.

I too have had some minor health problems (ie Eczema). Now that it is clearing up with a steroid (boy that worked fast, I'll have to update the Eczema thread!), I'm trying to relearn sleeping -- I have a two week prescription of the Restoril. It will happen...

I'm not usually a pill popper at all, never go to the doctor!!, so this is strange for me to be experimenting but the lack of sleep was driving me to desperation.

You may want to try melatonin. It is a natural supplement and works quite well for me. It is fairly inexpensive and can be bought anywhere vitamins are sold. My friend swears by Simply Sleep. Getting your body back into the pattern of sleeping is often difficult. Good Luck.

Meatie I was just going to say that. I have had some serious sleep problems and the prescription meds weren't doing it for me. Now when I go through a cycle of not sleeping I take melatonin and I am asleep within a half hour.

Melatonin... aah! Where do you pick that up? How much do you take? Is it addictive? Thanks...

Not addictive at all. I buy it at CVS or Walgreens. It's with the vitamins. I use the sublingal as it is more effective. It is really cheap maybe 8 or 9 dollars for 90 pills. Melatonin is the hormone your body releases when it goes to sleep. Some people just don't make enough. I haven't needed it for sometime but boy when I do it works like a charm.

I take the 3mg sublingal.

Thank you so much Addison. I'm writing it on my list right now! That's what a 12 day supply of the prescription cost and it ain't working and I feel like yuck.

I think that my body quit making that hormone when I had my first baby 12 years ago.


Eileen (OP), have you tried Melatonin??

That is just stupid! Why does your insurance have the right to change what the Dr. ordered?
Those drugs are two different drugs. And while Ambien may be cheaper that does not give the insurance the right to change what the dr. ordered.

I mean if the Dr. prescribed a high powered antibiotic (like, say, Levaquin) would the insurance give you Amoxicillin?

That aside, Ambien has some serious side effects. I have taken Rozerem and Sonata. Both of which have helped me sleep with no side effects and no nasty dependence issues.

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There is also something called Valerian........that is also a herbal sleeping remedy. I have used it with some success along with melatonin.

Valerian - April 15, 2003 - American Family Physician

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I know what you mean about insurance and feeling they can give you what they want. I will definately hit up the store and check into melatonin.

Thanks for all your input.

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Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

When I was a child and we went on road trips for the entire summer (yes, we tent camped for the entire summer), my folks gave us Valerian Tea one time when we were getting *hyper* in the car. One time was all it took. I still smell the stuff and my stomach turns. It is quite odoriferous... (is that a word, spell check didn't underline it!!!???) as in skunky smelling. LOL.

It does work as a relaxant, however. It was recommended to me at one time to take Valerian (capsules!!!) as a relaxant for TMJ but I've had that taken care of with braces. Thankfully.

PS -- spell check DID underline 'skunky' but I'm leaving it!

Man I'm glad I saw this post today. I managed to go to sleep at, get this, 7:30am this morning. I tossed, turned, and got elbowed in bed because I was all over the place. Trying to get to sleep. I finally got up and went to my chair where I still didn't go to sleep. I was/am so gosh darn sleepy it's not even funny.

Needless to say I'll be trying something and soon!

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My doctor was concerned of the addictiveness of the perscription meds, she said people start sleeping well but they can't get off the meds. I take Benedryl, she said it's non-addictive and I recently stopped taking it because I can go to sleep and stay asleep on my own now. And a bonus is my allergies are better too!

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Melatonin is just for REM sleep. It doesnt help with restful sleep.
A cheap, OLDIE BUT GOODIE is trazadone.. We use that ALOT here in the hospital.
Also yes, insurance companies CAN change medication no matter what the dr orders... A shame but it happens all the time...

That is why I was told to take the melatonin along with the Valerian.

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Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O